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Weekly News & Updates
June 19, 2025
| | Synod Announcements & Updates | |
A Prayer for Juneteenth
O God, call us into a deeper relationship to be your church for the sake of the world. Help us to see with new eyes the injustices within church and society. Call us to have a loving heart that respects and uplifts the humanity and dignity of every person; open our ears to listen to and learn from the experiences of people of color. Open our mouths to speak up and about injustices. Join us with others to work for racial equity and inclusion for all people. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.
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We Want to Tell Your Stories!
Your stories are our stories, and we want to share them with the rest of the synod and elsewhere. What's going on within your congregation? How are you engaging with your community? What might encourage the other members of the Pacifica Synod? Let us know by filling out this simple Google form.
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Lutheran Retreats, Camps, and Conferences
Needs a New Executive Director
Lutheran Retreats, Camps and Conferences is looking for our next leader! Might God be calling you to the mountains above Los Angeles? We are excited about the future! If you can see yourself leading a Lutheran outdoor ministry organization with two sites in So Cal... maybe you are the person we are looking for... but how can we know if you don’t apply? The deadline for resume submission is Tuesday, July 15th, 2025. Get the complete job description here, and if it sounds like something you or someone you know would like to pursue, email your resume to both Kim AND Scott.
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Organ Concert
June 21, 2025 - 4:00 PM
Resurrection Lutheran in Huntington Beach is welcoming Megumi Teraoka and Hitomi Yoshida from Japan to perform an organ concert on Saturday, June 21, at 4:00. The church is located at 9812 Hamilton Ave in HB.
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The Ordination of Brenda S. Lussier
July 12, 2025 - 2:00 PM
Come celebrate with Trinity Lutheran Church of Riverside as Brenda S. Lussier is ordained to the roster of Word and Service and installed on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 2:00 pm. Deacon Brenda has been called to a ministry of equipping others, fostering collaboration, and building community rooted in God’s love for all people. This call reflects her passion to serve, advocate, and accompany others — shining light in dark places, standing with the oppressed, and inspiring others to live with purpose and compassion. The service will be followed by a reception in the fellowship hall. All are welcome!
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SAVE THE DATE - TAPESTRY RETREAT #2
September 19-21, 2025
Our first Tapestry retreat in March was a joyous, Spirit-filled time of renewal and community building. Presentations from clergy and lay leaders were centered in Queer Theology. Attendees were encouraged and affirmed in their faith and identity. We are following up our successful first retreat with a SECOND RETREAT – September 19-21.
Join us for a weekend of spiritual renewal. We will hear talks from LGBTQ+ clergy and lay leaders; spend time in small groups to reflect, connect and create; enjoy free time for creating, praying or holy rest.
We will begin at 5pm on Friday night with an open circle of getting to know each other and then proceed to a meditation before retiring for the evening. Meals included for the weekend: Saturday – breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Sunday – breakfast and lunch. There will be plenty of snacks throughout the weekend to satisfy even the most voracious appetites.
Come experience God’s love for you in a space designed with you in mind!
Tapestry is a ministry of the Pacifica Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), dedicated to inspiring and educating LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies. Through our retreat weekends, we foster community and deepen our understanding of Christ from a Queer perspective. Participants leave these retreats empowered to serve as beacons of faith, providing support and connection to those seeking a safe space to express their spirituality.
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Join the Lutheran Volunteer Corps!
Fellow applications accepted until June 30, 2025
The LVC is still going strong in their 46th year. Their current cities are DC, the Twin Cities, Wilmington, DE, and they're launching Pittsburgh this year. They're accepting fellow applications until June 30, 2025, and their year begins September 1, 2025 and continues until July 31, 2026. They've seen an increase in ELCA applicants and fellows in the last 2 years and hope to continue that trend! More information about the LVC can be found at LutheranVolunteerCorps.org, and fellow applications can be started at this link.
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ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grants
Phase One of Applications due by July 2, 2025
ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grants accompany congregations and their partners throughout the U.S. & Caribbean as they draw on the strengths of communities to address local issues such as food security, clean water, housing, job access, human rights, policy change and more.
Together, these ministries are part of a comprehensive approach to breaking the cycle of poverty and hunger — for good.
Learn more about the grant and current grantees, and find this year’s application using the button below. The first phase of the applications are due July 2, 2025.
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Experience Live from LSM June 22-July 20
Join Lutheran Summer Music for our 43rd season at Valparaiso University, June 22–July 20! Can’t attend in person? Experience over 30 inspiring concerts, recitals, and worship services online through Live from LSM.
Highlights include the beloved Bach Cantata Eucharist, the Festival of Hymns, the debut Faculty Organ Recital, and Festival Week performances by the Festival Band, Orchestra, and Choir.
Explore the full schedule and tune in at LSMacademy.org/2025. All events are free and available to stream live or on demand. Don’t miss this transformative celebration of music, faith, and community!
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The Seminar on Lutheran Liturgy
August 13-15, 2025
Registration for the Seminar on Lutheran Liturgy is now open, and you are invited to join other rostered leaders, musicians, and scholars Aug. 13-15 in Minneapolis. The first Seminar will welcome Dr. Maxwell E. Johnson (Notre Dame), Lizette Larson-Miller (University of Huron), Ed Foley (Catholic Theological Union), Audrey West (LSTC/Yale), and a host of other workshop leaders under the theme “Let it Be With Me According to Your Word: From Praying to Knowing to Doing.” Intended to foster conversation about the liturgical formation of pastors, deacons, and musicians in the ELCA, the Seminar will also welcome a host of musicians and ensembles, including MN Boychoir, the Summer Singers, Daniel Schwandt, Chad Fothergill, Andrew Schaeffer, and Kevin Vaughn. You can register at www.seminarliturgy.org.
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Join Bishop Dave for a Tour of Greece & Turkey!
October 22 - November 2, 2025
In Invitation from Bishop Dave:
After the scales fell from Saul's eyes and he became Paul his only passion was sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with the world. He understood that the message of God's unconditional love was not just for Jewish people like him, but for everyone! So he followed God's leading to far away places and diverse cultures to let them know how Divinely loved they truly were. I want to invite you to join me in following Paul's footsteps through Türkiye and Greece. We will stand in places where he delivered sermons. We will meet people who are direct spiritual descendants of these early churches. Most importantly, we will open our hearts to what God has to say to us and how God can transform our lives. I hope that you will make the investment of time and finances in this once in a lifetime spiritual pilgrimage. Let's do this together!
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE!
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Free Audio Equipment! - Faith Lutheran, Menifee
Faith Lutheran in Menifee has some sound system equipment they no longer need and would like to give away. A complete list of the available equipment can be viewed here. If interested, contact Office Administrator Lynn Bennett at faithlutheranmenifee@gmail.com.
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Praise Band Leader - King of Glory, Fountain Valley
King of Glory in Fountain Valley is looking for a passionate and skilled Praise Band Leader to help lead our worship through music! This part-time role (approx. 6 hours per week) involves directing the Praise Band, selecting music, leading rehearsals, and working with the King of Glory worship team to create an engaging worship experience for all.
All interested parties may contact Pastor Natalie Benson at pastor@kogchurch.org. View the full job description HERE.
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Office Manager - Our Savior's, Banning
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Banning, CA, is seeking applications for the position of Office Manager which will become vacant in August. The Office Manager performs a variety of jobs both secretarial duties and financial duties and is the first contact person in the office.
Principal duties include maintains the church calendar, prepares weekly bulletins and monthly newsletter; prepares PowerPoint presentations for worship service; answers the telephone and emails; keeps membership records; and assembles reports; orders office supplies. The applicant must have the ability to properly use office equipment including the computer, computer programs, and copy machine.
The Office Manager is a part-time position working 20 hours/week, currently 8:00 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. The Office Manager is sometimes required to work additional hours on a “as need” basis. Salary is negotiable.
Those interested are asked to contact Diana Herington at (951) 202-1995 or by email at treasurer@oursaviorsbanningca.com.
| | Pacifica Synod Grant Opportunities | |
Follow the links below to learn more about available grants:
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Funding for Coaching and Spiritual Direction
Pacifica Synod is investing in coaching and spiritual direction as one means of supporting faithful, resilient leaders in the church and the world. This pilot program allows for up to $400 per individual to subsidize sessions with a certified coach or spiritual director while funds last. We anticipate this will provide participants with 3-6 sessions with the coach or spiritual director, depending on their rate. This opportunity is open to both rostered and lay (non-rostered) leaders, such as administrative staff and congregational officers within the Pacifica Synod.
Download Application
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Want to share your event or job posting with the Pacifica Synod?
Make sure it gets included in our weekly newsletter!
Our newsletters are sent out weekly, usually on Thurday or Friday. The deadline for inclusion that week is Tuesday at noon. If you have questions regarding synod communications, please email Adam Palmer at communications@pacificasynod.org.
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The Pacifica Synod of the ELCA affirms that nothing can separate you from God’s abounding love. You were created in the image of God. We proclaim ourselves to be an open and affirming Synod to all of God's creation. All are worthy and welcome including people of every gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, ethnicity, neurodivergence, age, disability, ability, and immigration status. We commit ourselves to doing the work of anti-racism, social and economic justice, and environmental restoration. All are embraced and loved here. We invite you to join us, as disciples of Christ, as we joyfully love and serve our communities.
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